Adjustable basketball backboard assembly



y 5, 1955 J. BARCLAY ET AL ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL BACKBOARD ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 26, 1950 I llllllflllll INVENTORS JAMAS bA/LCLAY BY JON/V. .s. /vox July 5, 1955 Filed Jan. 26, 1950 J. BARCLAY ET AL 2,712,445

ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL BACKBOARD ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JAMfS 5412.61.43 y JOA A/ S. KNOX I JMZW 1/7,

United States Patent ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL BACKBOARD ASSEMBLY James Barclay and John S. Knox, Midland, Mich.

Application January 26, 1950, Serial No. 140,734

2 Claims. (Cl. 2731.5)

The invention relates to an adjustable basketball backstop and more particularly concerns a basketball backstop assembly adjustable as to height while retaining the backboard in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the playing floor.

In arousing and maintaining the interest of the younger age group children in the game of basketball and in teaching the game to them we have found it a desideratum to provide a basketball court wherein the baskets or scoring hoops and their supporting backboards are susceptible of adjustment in a vertical plane so as to bring the baskets closer to the playing floor. In this manner, and by providing the younger children with a smaller diameter playing ball, we have been very successful in teaching basketball to the younger children while maintaining their avid interest in the game due to the relatively greater ease with which they develop fair playing skill. At the same time the basketball court is still satisfactory as an official playing court by virtue of the fact that the baskets can be readily returned to the position required for a court satisfying the standardized official rules governing the game.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a basketball backstop which may be readily and quickly raised and lowered while the face of the backboard remains in a plane perpendicular to the playing floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable backstop wherein the basket and supporting backboard may be raised and lowered while the face of the backboard remains in a normal and standardized plane with the playing floor.

Another object is to provide an adjustable basketball backstop which may be raised and lowered through a definite predetermined distance while maintaining the face of the blackboard in a plane perpendicular to the playing floor and thereafter be raised as desired to a position well out of the way in case the floor and the area above the floor are to be used for other purposes.-

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable backstop that is readily manipulated by a single operator even though he be a young boy.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable backstop that may be changed from one position toanother very rapidly so that various age groups may use the court in quick succession without the necessity of a tiresome wait While the backstop is being adjusted.

Another object is to provide an adjustable backboard assembly adapted to be readily attached to the roof girders, or end walls, as desired, of a gymnasium.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

Patented July 5, 1955 In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of our adjustable basketball backstop assembly showing the backstop in playing position and also showing the backboard, basket, and a portion of the assembly raised partly to a position out of the way so as to free the area where the basket is normally positioned during play.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partly in section, taken along lines 22 of Fig. l viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view along lines 33 of Fig. 2 rotated through degrees, however.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in enlarged detail along lines'44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the assembly of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1 basket 1 is supported on and secured to the usual backboard 2. Backboard 2 is attached to a frame member designated generally by numeral 3 shown and described in detail in connection with Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Frame member 3 is mounted in sliding relationship in a side slotted frame assembly indicated at 4. Paired plates 5 are attached to the slotted frame 4' as by bolts engaging holes 6 and serve as a pivotal mounting for the tubular arms 7 riding on cross arm 8. At the other end tubular arms 7 are attached to plates 9 as by welding and the plates 9 are in turn pivotally secured to one leg of angle members 10 as by means of pins 11. Angle members 10 are attached to roof purlins or beams 12 as by means of bolts 13. A second pair of plates 14 are mounted on slotted frame 4 as by means of bolts engaging holes 15 and act as a pivotal support to tubular arms 16 secured thereto by pins 17. The other ends of tubular arms 16 are flattened and pivotally mounted on one leg of angle members 18 by means of pins 19. The other legs of angle members 18 are bolted to the roof beam 12 as by bolts 26. Crossed chains indicated diagrammatically at 21 (see Fig. 2) are secured by means of eyes 22 and 23 to tubular arms 16 and roof purlins 12 respectively to limit the downward travel of the slotted frame assembly 4. A cable 24 secured at one end to eye 25 and at the other end to a pawl controlled crank actuated winch (not shown) serves as a means of raising and lowering the assembly. Cable 24 runs in pulley 26 mounted on bracket 27 secured to purlin 12. The crank operated winch may be conveniently located on the wall within easy reach for manual manipulation. The position of the basket 1, backboard 2, and frame members 3 and 4, when raised, is indicated generally by numeral 28. In this raised position it will be noted that the backboard 2 and frame 3 have moved upward in slotted frame assembly 4 in a manner to be later described.

As viewed from the front in Fig. 2, the backboard 2 has been broken away to more clearly show the supporting frames 3 and 4. Frame assembly 3 comprises right and left angle members 29 and 39 provided at the lower end with projecting stop lugs 31 and 32. At the other end the angle members 29 and 30 are held in spaced apart relation by cross member 33 to which eye 25 is attached. Holes 34 and 35 are provided in angle members 29 and 30 for the attachment of the backboard 2 which acts to brace and add rigidity to frame 3. The vertical legs of slotted frame member 4 comprise channel members 36 and 37 in face to face relation with a second pair of channel sections all as seen more clearly in Fig. 3. The channels 36 and 37 are provided with holes 38 and 39 to accommodate spacer bolts (see Fig. 3). The frame 4 is made rigid by virtue of channel members 36 and 37 being braced by cross members 40, 41, and 42. Further bracing is secured by cross trusses 43, 44, 45, and 46. Tubulat arms 7, seen also in Fig. 1, are cross trussed for greater rigidity by diagonal truss members 47 and 48 which may be suitably secured to arms 7 as by welding to provide a rigid inner supporting frame for slotted frame member 4. The upper ends of arms 7 are welded to plates 9 which are in turn pivotally mounted on angle brackets 10, the latter being secured to roof beams 12. The mounting of diagrammatically shown cross chains 21 is more clearly shown in Fig. 2. Tubular arms 16 are mounted outside of the tubular frame formed about-arms 7 and as seen are attached at one end to plates 14 secured to frame 4 and at the other end to angle brackets 18'supported by roof beams 12.

In the enlarged sectional view of Fig. 3 along lines 33 of Fig. 2, rotated through 180 degrees, however, the construction of the sloted frame 4 is seen in clearer detail. Channel member 36 is held spaced from channel 49 by means of sleeve 50 abutting the inside of the webs of channels 36 and 49. Bolt 51 extends through the channel web 49, sleeve '50, channel web 36, and engages nut 52 to se- 74 and runs in sheaves 94 and 95 supported by brackets 96 and 97 carried by purlin 98. The cable runs to a hand winch (not shown) mounted on the wall which serves to raise and lower the backboard assembly as desired. It will be apparent that as the backboard is raised and lowered its face remains in a vertical plane without any tendcable 24 to lengthen and drop the backboard frame assembly until crossed chains '21 come taut arresting further downward movement of arms 16 and thus placing the backboard at normal standardized height and in a plane perpendicular to the floor. Thereafter if it is desired to lower the backboard and basket it is only necescure and hold the two channels rigidly in face to face but spaced apart relation. A series of sleeves 50 and bolts 51 are spaced upand down the webs of each pair of channels to provide a frame with a slotted edge. The sleeve 50 is of such a length that the flanges of channels 36 and 49 do not meet and provide a track on which frame 3 is mounted to slide up and down. A spacing sleeve 53 sary to further manipulate the winch to allow cable 24 to further lengthen. The Weight of the backboard 2 and its'supporting frame 3 causes this part of the assembly to move straight downward being held in position in the 1 slotted track formed by the facing channels forming is mounted in the slot formed between the channel flanges and is held against one leg of angle 29 by bolt 54 and nut 55. A washer or plate 56 prevents sleeve 53 from escaping from the slot. The other leg of angle 29 is secured to backboard 2 as by lag screw 57. The slot formed by the other flanges of channel members 36 and 49 affords a means of securing plate 5 to frame 4 by means of bolt 58, washer 59, and nut 60.

In the enlarged detail of Fig. 4 the manner of attaching the angle 29 of frame 3 to frame 4 is more clearly deframe 4. The backboard is held against lateral movement as it progresses downward by the locking action of the washer 56, bolt 54, and nut 55. It will be appreciated that this downward movement is accomplished while the backboard remains in the same vertical plane so that the overall length of the playing court remains unaltered. When it is desired to raise the backboard and basket it is only necessary to wind up cable 24 until stop member 31 engages plate 61. Until the time plate 61 is engaged the backboard 2 rises in a vertical plane and this point picted. As seen the washer 56 is actually an elongated plate secured by two bolts 54 and the plate washer 56 is adapted to slide up and down on the inside of channel flanges 36 and 49 when the frame 3 is lifted. Stop lug 31 acts to stop the upward travel of frame 3 as it abuts plate 61 secured at the lower end of channels 36 and 49. Additionally the positioning lugs 62 and 63 which act to locate plate 5 are more clearly seen. The shape of washer 59 serving to back up plate 5 is seen in dotted lines.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 the backboard 64, on which basket 65 is mounted, is supported by a trussed frame assembly comprising triangular. shaped trusses indicated generally at 66 and 67. The triangular truss 66 is comprised of tubular legs 68, 69, and 70 cross braced by tubular member 71. The legs and cross brace may be conveniently secured together as by welding at the point of abutment. A plate 72 is secured at one corner of truss 66 and serves as a means whereby the truss 66 may be pivotally mounted through pin 73 to the angle bracket .74 carried by backboard 64. A plate 75 is secured at another corner of the triangular truss and serves to attach the truss to wall bracket 76 in pivotal relationship on pin 77. The other corner of the triangular truss 66 mounts an angle bracket 78 which is welded in back to back relation to a similar angle bracket 79 carried by truss member 67. Truss member 67' is identical with truss 66 and comprises tubular legs 80, 81, and 82 cross braced by tubular member 83. Plate 84 at one corner of truss 67 is pivotally mounted through pin 85 to angle bracket 86 serving to support backboard 64. A plate 87 at the opposite corner of the truss 67 is may be made the oflicial playing location of the backboard if desired. Further winding on the cable causes the backboard assembly to tilt so that it may be raised until it abuts the roof purlin in which location it is further out of the way and allows unhampered use of the area ordinarily occupied by the conventional backboard and basket.

In the operation of the modification of Figs. 5 and 6 it will be appreciated that while raising and lowering the backboard retains it in a vertical plane it will move slightly toward or away from the wall soas to lengthen or shorten the distance between the baskets slightly. However, this type of operation will be found satisfactory in some locations.

We claim: a

1. In an adjustable basketball backboard the combination which includes a backboard supporting frame, a track for said frame adapted to allow the backboard to move in'a vertical plane when suitably urged, stop means adapted-to limit the travel of the frame on the track, supporting means for the track adapted to allow the backboard and supporting track to tilt upward after the backboard has been moved upward on the track a predetermined distance. means for raising and lowering the backboard and its supporting frame on the track, said raising and lowering means also being adapted to effect upward and downward arcuate movement of said frame and board relative to the normal vertical playing position of the board after the stop means are engaged by movement of the frame on the track.

2. In an adjustable basketball backboard the combination which includes a backboard supporting frame, a track for said frame adapted to allow the frame to move in a vertical plane comprising a slotted member adapted to support said frame in sliding engagement, stop means carried by the frame for limiting the extent of sliding engagement, a pivotal support for said track adapted to allow the track to move in an arc, means for limiting the magnitude of the arc, and means for raising and lowthe pivotal support as the stop means are engaged after vertical movement of the track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thornley Aug. 5, 1924 6 Steele Oct. 14, 1930 Albach July 25, 1933 Grieve June 15, 1937 Osness Oct. 29, 1940 Woodburn Mar. 9, 1943 Gibson July 3, 1945 

